Feeding mechanism for stapling-machines.



No. 765,911. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

P. BALZE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1898.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

110. 765,911. PATENTED JULY 26, 1904. P. BALZB. FEEDING MECHANISM FORSTAPLING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1898. N0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

PATENTED JULY 26, 1904.

I. BALZE. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAPLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1898.

N0 MODEL.

ha e? 21' UNITED STATES Patented July 26, 1904.

ATENT Orrics- FREDERICK BALZE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECTAND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROBERT HOE AND CHARLES IV. CARPEN- TER, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STAPLlNG-IVIACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,911, dated. July26, 1904.

Application filed September 23, 1898. Serial N0- 691,'740. (N0 model.)

To all /1/0110 it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK BALZE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism forStapling-Wiachines, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to wire-feeding mechanisms, and is particularlyadapted and intended for use in connection with the Wirestapling deviceswhich are used in connection with printing-machines and which are usedto insert staples in running-webs. In such devices as heretoforeconstructed the feed mechanism has usually been continuous in itsoperation, and it has been so constructed in order to supply sufficientwire to the stapling devices which, owing to the fact that they are usedto staple the output of fast printing-machines, necessarily run at greatspeed. Continuously operating feeding devices have, however, been foundunsatisfactory in some respects, and particularly in that class of machines in which the wire-length-taking device moves across the line ofwire feed, because owing to the fact that since the wire is continuouslyfed by the feeding devices after a length of wire suflicient to form astaple had been fed to the wire-length-taking devices, which are usuallythe staple-forming devices, the succeeding length would be fed againstthe staple-forming devices while they were operating upon the firstlength, and notwithstanding the great rapidity With which the saiddevices operate the Wire would buckle or bend, so as not to be fedtruly.

The object of this invention is to produce a feeding device which, whileit is practically continuous in its operation, so as to supply theamount of wire necessary to the wire-lengthtaking device, still has aslight pause or mementary dwell in its action'which will give thatdevice time to operate, and thereby avoid buckling the succeeding lengthof wire.

The invention consists in certain mechancombinations thereof, which willbe herein after described and the novel features of which will bepointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts,Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing thedrawing-off rolls of the longitudinal folders of a printing-machine, thecutting-cylinders, the stapling mechanism, and the improved wire-feedingdevices. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved feeding device detachedfrom the machine. Fig. 3 is aside view thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are detailviews. Fig. 6 is a view of amodification, and Fig. 7 is a sectionaldetail, of the staple-forming mechanism looking in the direction of thearrow on Fig. 1.

In'that embodiment of the invention which has been selected forillustration in the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates a portion of theframe of a printing-machine, and 2 indicates the drawing-off rolls of alongitudinal folder, the rolls being properly mounted with respect tothe said frame. The web (indicated at 3) passes between a pair ofcylinders I and 5, herein shown as cutting-cylinders, and of which thecylinder e may, if desired, be a collecting-cylinder.

I 1 indicate bracket-arms extending from a standard K, which is suitablyconnected to the frame 1 of the machine. The arm I supports a part ofthe wire-feeding mechanism hereinafter to be described, and the arm Icarries the curved bending-anvil S, which assists in forming the staple.

The wire-feeding mechanism proper, which is shown in its relativeposition with respect to the other devices in Fig. 1, is mainlysupported by a bracket C, which in this instance is secured by means ofa bolt or in any other convenient way to a portion of the bendinganvilS. In addition to the bracket C this mechanism is steadied by asupporting-bar 6, which engages in a notch in one side thereof, as shownin Fig. 1.

The wire W is fed to the staple forming and presenting devices by meansof a pair of feed-rolls A A. The feed-roll A is shown in detail in Fig.5 and in its relative position in Fig. l, and the roll Ais shown indotted lines in Fig. 1, it being located behind the wireguide.

The feed-roll A is mounted on a shaft B, which is suitably supported ina bearing in the bracket C before referred to. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Theshaft B is preferably provided with a gear-wheel D, which serves to turnthe shaft of the cooperating feed-roll A. It is obvious, however, thatthis operating mechanism for the cooperating feed-roll may be omitted,the roll being allowed to be turned by friction from the feed-roll A,or, if desired, the feed-roll A may be omitted alt-0- gether, the roll Aoperating in connection with a stationary feeding-surface.

The advancingdevices for rotating the feedroll A are preferably mountedupon the end of the shaft opposite to that upon which the feed-roll ismounted. These advancing devices include in the illustrated form of theinvention two arms or carriers E, having hubs which loosely surround theshaft B. Each of the carriers E has pivoted thereto a pawl F. Thesepawls F are located on opposite sides of the shaft and engage aratchet-wheel G, which is fast upon the shaft, and are faced so as toalternately engage the ratchet-wheel. As the arms or pawl-carriers aremoved back and forth and each pawl F alternately engages theratchet-wheel G the wheel and the shaft will be rotated, thus operatingthe feed-roll A. The pawls F are held to their work by means ofleaf-springs f, which are suitably secured to the carriers and engagethe tails of the pawls. The tails of the pawls are preferably providedwith fiat ends f so that the springs will not only hold them to theirwork by bearing against the side f, but when the pawls or either of themare swung back, so as to be disengaged from the ratchet, the springswill hold them in this position by bearing against the side f Thereciprocating mechanism for operating the carriers before referred toincludes a sliding rod H. This rod H passes through and is supported inthe arm I, which, as before described, extends outward from the standardK, suitably fixed on the frame of the machine. It is provided at one endwith a fork L, which embraces -a shaft M, which will be hereinafterreferred to. The rod H has secured upon it, by means of a collar N or inany other suitable way, a cross-head 0, provided with a groove 0. Eachof the carriers before referred to is provided with a stud e, extendinglaterally therefrom, which stud engages with the groove 0 in thecross-head before referred to. As the sliding rod H is reciprocated inone direction it operates the arms or carriers E and causes them to movesimultaneously, during which movement one of the pawls F will engage theteeth in the ratchet-wheel and turn it, while the other one of the pawlsF will slip idly over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and is thus put inposition for a fresh take on the ratchet when the movement of thesliding rod is reversed. As the sliding rod reaches the point ofreversein its movement there will be a slight dwell in the operation of thefeeding roll between the times when one of the pawls ceases to act andthe other is thrown into operation by the reversal of movement of thesliding rod. It is during this dwell that the length of wire is cut offand carried onward by the staple-forming devices, as will hereinafterappear.

Various devices may be used to reciprocate the sliding rod. In one formof the machine shown it is given its movement in one direction by meansof a cam P, which is suitably mounted on the shaft M. This cam 1 engagesa projection, preferably in the form of a roller which is secured to thesliding rod by means of a screw 32. The sliding rod is provided with acollar it, secured thereto by means of a set-screw or in any othersuitable manner, and between this collar and the bearing in the arm 1,before referred to, is located a spring it. As the sliding rod is movedin one direction by the cam this spring will be compressed and serves tomove the rod in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved bythe cam.

The shaft M may be rotated in various ways. It is herein shown asrotated bya worm-gear Q, mounted on a shaft R, which finds suitablebearings in the machine, the said worm-gear engaging a gear-wheel m,mounted on the shaft M.

The feed-rolls A A, operated as before described, feed forward a lengthof wire sufficient to form a staple, and as thedwell takes place in theoperation of the feeding mechanism the wire is in position to be caughtand is caught by the wire-length-taking device, which in this instanceis the staple-forming tool 7, said tool being carried in the machineshown on the roll 5 and moving across the line of wire feed. Thisstaple-forming tool 7, which is clearly shown in detail in Fig. 7, hastwo projecting legs, which are spaced aparta distance equal to the widthof the staple-bending anvil. Each of these legs is slightly cut away toform a recess 8 (see Fig. 1) to receive the length of wire from whichthe staple is to be formed. As the roll 5 rotates the stapleforming toolcomes in contact with and catches the length of wire lying in recess 8,above referred to. As the staple-forming tool comes in contact with thewire a cam 9, which is mounted on the side of the forming-tool, operatesthe cutter 10, which is mounted upon the side of the wire-feeding device(see Fig. 1) to cut ofl a wire length. The length of wire is thercarried forward and bent up into a staple and inserted, the forming-toolretreating as the staple approaches the inserting-point. This retreatingmovement of the staple-forming tool is permitted by a stationary cam 11,which is mounted on the shaft 12, which supports the roll 5. This cam 11preferably engages a friction-roller in the lower end of theforming-tool, and the said tool is forced to follow the configuration ofthe cam by means of a spring 18.

The operation of making and inserting the staple is, however, well knownto those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and afuller description thereof is deemed unnecessary. It is to be remarked,however, that while the form of staple making and inserting devicesherein shown is a preferable one the feeding devices may be used withany form of stapling mechanism and, indeed, are capable of independentuse in relations other than in connection with staple-forming devices.They are, however, particularly adapted and designed for use in thisconnection, since not only is the desirable dwell hereinbefore referredto produced and time thereby given for the operation of the cutter andthe passage of the staple-forming tool, but it is possible because ofthe peculiarity of pawls employed to throw out one of the pawls, andthereby reduce the capacity of the feeding mechanism and to do thisrapidly. This is particularly desirable when the feed is used inconnection with printing machinery, because it enables the sameWire-feeding mechanism to be used on machines which produce differentproducts. For instance, when it is desired to use the cylinder 4 as acollectingcylinder in a manner well known in the art one of theoperating-pawls F is thrown back out of the way. The pawl has now nofeeding action, and the capacity of the wire-feeding devices isconsequently reduced one-half, thus enabling the cylinder to make tworevolutions and collect two sheets before the wire-feed operates toforward a length of wire into position to be taken by the staple-formingtool. Furthermore, by changing the shape of the 0perating-cam the numberof operations of the wire-feeding devices may be varied to almost anydesired extent, and this change can be made readily and rapidly.

Various modifications may be made in the several mechanisms whichconstitute the machine. the reciprocating devices. The shaft M insteadof being provided with the cam, as in the construction before described,is provided with a crank-disk T. This disk T carries a crank-stud t,which is connected by two connecting-rods U to each of theadvancing-arms of the devices before described. Rotation of thecrank-disk will obviously cause a simultaneous movement of the advancingdevices in opposite directions, and the pawls will act In Fig. 6 isshown one modification of to rotate thefeed-roll as in the othermodification.

As has been before stated, modifications may be made in the severalmechanisms which comprise this machine, and it is to be understood,therefore, that the invention is not limited to the particular deviceswhich are herein shown and described nor to the particular usedescribed, as the several mechanisms described are capable of use eitherseparately or in combination in many other relations.

WVhat I claim is 1. The combination with a wire-feed roll of a meanscooperating therewith between which and the roll the wire is fed and bywhich the wire is always gripped, staple-forming and wire-cuttingdevices, said staple-forming devices moving across the path of the wirefeed, a reciprocating mechanism for turning the roll, and means wherebythe roll is turned on both strokes of the reciprocating mechanism,whereby a practically continuous feed of the wire is secured except fora dwell when the reciprocating mechanism reverses, said dwell beingarranged to occur when the staple-forming devices cross the path of thewire feed.

2. The combination with a wire-feeding roll of means cooperatingtherewith between which and the roll the Wire is fed and by which thewire is always gripped, staple-forming and wire-cutting devices, saidstaple-forming devices moving across the path of the wire feed, aratchet-wheel, means whereby the movement of the ratchet-wheel istransmitted to the roll, two pawls facing in opposite directions andlocated on opposite sides of the wheel, and a reciprocating mechanismfor operating the pawls, whereby a continuous feed of the wire issecured except for a dwell when the stapleforming devices cross the lineof the wire feed.

3. The combination with the delivery mechanism of a printing-machine,said mechanism including a cylinder adapted for use either as acollecting or non-collecting cylinder, of staple forming and insertingdevices, a wire-feeding roll, means cooperating therewith between whichand the roll the wire is fed and by which the wire is always gripped, areciprocating mechanism for driving the roll, two sets of deviceswhereby the roll is driven on each stroke of the reciprocatingmechanism, and means whereby either set of devices may be thrown out ofoperation, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the delivery mechanism of a printing-machine,said mechanism including a cylinder adapted for use either as acollecting or non-collecting cylinder, of staple forming and insertingdevices, a wire-feeding roll, means cooperating therewith between whichand the roll the wire is fed and by which the wire is always gripped, aratchetwheel, means for communicating the movement of the ratchet-wheelto the feed-roll, a

pivoted pawl located on each side of the wheel, said pawls facing inopposite directions, and a reciprocating mechanism for operating saidpawls, substantially as described.

5. The combination with adelivery mechanism of a printing-machinegsaidmechanism including a cylinder adapted for use either as a collecting ornon-collecting cylinder, of staple forming and inserting devices, a pairof wirefeeding rolls between which the wire is always gripped, aratchet-wheel on one of the rolls, a pair of pawl-carriers looselymounted on the shaft of the rolls, a pair of pawls mounted on thepawl-carriers andfacing in opposite directions, said pawl-carriers andpawls being arranged on opposite sides of the ratchet-wheel, and areciprocating mechanism for operating the pawls, substantially asdescribed.

6. The combination with a rotating feeding member, of a ratchet-wheelfixed on the shaft thereof, two pawl-carriers loosely mounted on theshaft, a pawl on each of the carriers, said pawls being arranged toalternately turn the shaft in the same direction, a grooved crosshead, astud extending from each of the carriers to the groove in thecross-head, and means for reciprocating the cross-head, sub stantiallyas described.

7. The combination with a rotating feeding member, of a ratchet-wheelfixed on the shaft thereof, two pawl-carriers loosely mounted on theshaft, a pawl on each of the carriers, said pawls being arranged toalternately turn the shaft in the same direction, a reciprocating rod, agrooved cross-head mounted on the rod, a stud extending from each of thecarriers to the groove in the cross-head, a cam for reciprocating therod in one direction, and a spring for returning it, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with a rotating feeding member, of a ratchet-wheelfixed on the shaft thereof, two pawl-carriers loosely mounted on theshaft, a pawl on each of the carriers, said pawls being arranged toalternately operate the shaft in the same direction, a reciprocatingrod, a grooved cross-head carried on the rod, a stud extending from eachof the carriers to the groove in the cross-head, a shaft carrying a camfor reciprocating the rod in one direction and a spring for returningthe rod, the rod being constructed with a fork to embrace thecam-carrying shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK BALZE.

Witnesses:

J AMES Q. Rrom, F. W. H. CRANE.

